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<p>Ecological diversity depends on mechanisms that promote species coexistence, yet some non-native plants form monospecific stands, suggesting an ability to escape the self-limiting processes that constrain native flora. Whereas invasion success is often attributed to enhanced interspecific competition, it may also result from reduced intraspecific competition within introduced populations. Using a controlled greenhouse experiment, I compared competitive outcomes among single native and introduced populations of five plant species (<i>Gleditsia triacanthos</i>, <i>Pinus sylvestris</i>, <i>Paulownia tomentosa</i>, <i>Solidago canadensis</i>, <i>Viola sororia</i>). Individuals were grown in within-range (native × native, introduced × introduced) and across-range (native × introduced) pairings to test whether introduced populations exhibit weaker intraspecific competition. Introduced populations generally showed reduced self-limitation compared with native conspecifics, consistent with relaxed intraspecific density dependence. Because only one population per range was tested, these findings reflect population-level contrasts rather than species- or range-wide generalizations. Even so, the results indicate that modest reductions in self-limitation at the population level can substantially enhance the potential for invasive dominance, highlighting relaxed intraspecific competition as an underrecognized pathway to invasion success.</p>

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Reduced intraspecific competition in introduced plant populations suggests a role for self-limitation in invasion success

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月10日

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  • Robert Warren II

摘要

Ecological diversity depends on mechanisms that promote species coexistence, yet some non-native plants form monospecific stands, suggesting an ability to escape the self-limiting processes that constrain native flora. Whereas invasion success is often attributed to enhanced interspecific competition, it may also result from reduced intraspecific competition within introduced populations. Using a controlled greenhouse experiment, I compared competitive outcomes among single native and introduced populations of five plant species (Gleditsia triacanthos, Pinus sylvestris, Paulownia tomentosa, Solidago canadensis, Viola sororia). Individuals were grown in within-range (native × native, introduced × introduced) and across-range (native × introduced) pairings to test whether introduced populations exhibit weaker intraspecific competition. Introduced populations generally showed reduced self-limitation compared with native conspecifics, consistent with relaxed intraspecific density dependence. Because only one population per range was tested, these findings reflect population-level contrasts rather than species- or range-wide generalizations. Even so, the results indicate that modest reductions in self-limitation at the population level can substantially enhance the potential for invasive dominance, highlighting relaxed intraspecific competition as an underrecognized pathway to invasion success.